Real Love

Romans 5:1–8 NIV84

1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

1. God so loved the world that He gave

Love gives

1 Cor 13:4-8 “4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.”

Love is patient

Love never fails

True love will never fail

True love finds way to give more than it takes

2. Real love does not set conditions

Agape love is love without conditions

You can love pizza and get tired of it

You can love football and get tired of it

You cannot love your wife and get tired of her because love never fails (agape)

Love is a sacrifice

Love is willing to die

Eph 5:25 “25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her”

If you are not willing to give up everything for the one you love then you really don’t love the one you think you love

3. Real love is not afraid to discipline

Heb 12:5-8 “5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” 7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8 If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.”

Only illegitimate children don’t get discipline

They are not cared for

Discipline demonstrates love

4. Real love walks with you through the valleys

Ps 23:4 “4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

Love doesn’t pull us out of trials

Don’t let the enemy fool you into helping the butterfly out of its cocoon

We need the struggle and resistance to grow

Our struggles produce strength

Don’t get your loved ones out of struggles, you will cripple them more than empower them

The resistance develops strength

5. Real love is proven through sacrifice

God demonstrated His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us

Love is not asking others to sacrifice

Love will see the need and sacrifice

God loved us so that He gave His son as the ultimate sacrifice

When you have a couple trying to outdo each other in sacrifice—that marriage will never fail